Platypus The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a mammal which is endemic to Australia along with the Kangaroo and Koala. When first discovered many thought that the platypus was a hoax. They believed the hoax was sewn from parts of the rat and duck and others thought it was made from a otter or a mole and duck.
The Platypus is covered with dense brown fur that keeps it warm. Some obvious characteristics of a Platypus are the webbed feet and large rubbery snout. The eyes and ears of a Platypus are located in a groove( which closes when swimming).
The weight of the Platypus varies from about 0.7 to 2.4 kg. The males are usually larger than the females. Males on an average are around 50 cm in total length while females average from 43 cm. These measurements vary due to many factors (i.e. environmental factors). The average body temperature of about 32 °C rather than the 37 °C of the usual placental mammals.
Habitat Platypuses live in rivers and streams, due to this they are more vulnerable due to many different factors that contribute to their status of “Endangered Species”. Dangers to the platypus’s habitat include damming, water pollution, drainage, pollution crocodiles, snakes and more. The platypus is found in all rivers, freshwater creeks and lakes of eastern Australia (from Cooktown in the north to Tasmania in the south). Just in Victoria the Platypuses can be found in 26 of 31 river systems.
Platypuses prefer long pools that range from 1 – 2 meters with solid banks, slow flowing water. They usually choose places with plenty of aquatic vegetation.
Platypuses make 2 types of burrows. – The camping burrow and the nesting burrow. The camping burrow is occupied by both the male and female platypuses except during the breeding season. During breeding season the camping burrow is used as a bachelor apartment. This type of burrow has 2 exits which are hidden by overhanging ledges and are mostly found behind tree roots. The camping burrow is in the shape of a semi-circle. The nesting burrow is dug by the mother for breeding. A nesting chamber is then added to the burrow. The passages in these burrows are sloped upwards for protection against floods while their entrances are always above water. Nests built are usually made out of gum leaves, twigs or reeds. Usually the platypus dries itself before entering the burrow to maintain the dryness.
The platypus has quite a few adaptations that sets it apart from other animals. One of the many adaptations if the platypus’s bill. The platypus’s bill is the most prominent of the adaptations. The bill of the platypus aids its survival by acting as a tool for finding and mechanically digesting food. The bill has electroreceptors which allow the platypus to find its way in the river without using its eyes or ears. The mucus gland is attached to the nervous fibres in the electrosensative pores, because of this the platypus is able to detect the minute electrical impulses the prey makes. The platypus then uses its bill to force its prey out of hiding.This adaptation is mostly likely caused by the way the platypus do not use their eyes nor ears to see/hear thus making is more vunerable and creates a difficulty in finding food.
Second Structural Adaptation
Platypus's Spur and Crural Gland. Source: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resources/Grzimek_mammals/Ornithorhynchidae/v12_id12_con_spur.jpg/medium.jpg
The ankle spur is on both the females and males platypus’s ankles. The female’s spurs drop off early in their lives and only the males keep the spur. The male has spurs which produce venom. This venom can cause excruciating pain of the victim but is not lethal to most animals. The venmon is produced in a kindney shaped gland which is known as the crural gland. It is located on the upper thigh. The crural gland is only found in male platypuses as females have no need for the glands as their spurs drop off. This spur protects the platypus from harm as the spur is attached the limb in a way that allows a larger range of attack and only when required does the spur rise and at other times it lays flat against the limb. The need to protect itself and its kind influenced this adaptation, as the possibility of survival becomes slimmer when there is not any advantage when fighting/protecting.
Behavioral Adaptation Mating age/ritual
The platypus is a very shy animal and is often wary of those around it. Although it is generally and solitary animal it does share areas sometimes. During mating season (between August and October) the shy, wary male platypus becomes more aggressive toward other male platypuses. The platypuses (male and female) both reach sexual maturity around the age of two. Until that time the male is unable to produce sperm and the female cannot produce eggs. A part of the courtship between the male and female platypus includes a range of swimming movements and some involved the male hanging onto the female’s tail while she swims with his jaws. Not much is known about the actual act of mating but it is known that they mate in the water. This adaptations is influenced so that the best paired platypuses will mate. Burrow&Babies
Platypuses are nocturnal creatures and usually only leave their burrow early in the morning and at night. Their burrows are made as the platypus dig at the soft riverbanks to create their burrows. These burrows not only act as a home for them but also for the eggs the female will lay.
After the male and female platypus mates the female laves and builds a nesting burrow in preparation. The nesting burrows are made to keep her safe and contain twists and turns and are blocked with earth in more than one place. Once that is completed she stays in the burrow during the laying and incubation of her eggs. The female usually lays 1-3 eggs. These eggs usually look like reptile eggs. The female then lies between the eggs and uses her belly and tail to incubate the eggs. The adaption for eggs is most likely influenced by the environment and the need for survival whereas the burrow is mostly for protection and to aid the safety of the platypuses.
Physiological adaptation
The platypus has a lower body temperature than other mammals (37 – 38 Celsius). The platypus’s body temperature is approximately 32 Celsius. This helps the platypus sustain its body heat for as long as it can before it drops, but also because due to the low body temperature the rate of which the body heat is lost is slowed. The platypus reduces blood flow to bare and extreme parts of its body in cold weather and by doing this it keeps all the vital internal organs intact. Research has shown that this adaption has been a gradual one as the platypus adapts to the harsh environment around it.
Platypus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved July 12, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus
Future Platypus
Platypus
The Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is a mammal which is endemic to Australia along with the Kangaroo and Koala. When first discovered many thought that the platypus was a hoax. They believed the hoax was sewn from parts of the rat and duck and others thought it was made from a otter or a mole and duck.
The Platypus is covered with dense brown fur that keeps it warm. Some obvious characteristics of a Platypus are the webbed feet and large rubbery snout. The eyes and ears of a Platypus are located in a groove( which closes when swimming).
The weight of the Platypus varies from about 0.7 to 2.4 kg. The males are usually larger than the females. Males on an average are around 50 cm in total length while females average from 43 cm. These measurements vary due to many factors (i.e. environmental factors). The average body temperature of about 32 °C rather than the 37 °C of the usual placental mammals.
Scientific Classification
Habitat
Habitat Platypuses live in rivers and streams, due to this they are more vulnerable due to many different factors that contribute to their status of “Endangered Species”. Dangers to the platypus’s habitat include damming, water pollution, drainage, pollution crocodiles, snakes and more. The platypus is found in all rivers, freshwater creeks and lakes of eastern Australia (from Cooktown in the north to Tasmania in the south). Just in Victoria the Platypuses can be found in 26 of 31 river systems.
Platypuses prefer long pools that range from 1 – 2 meters with solid banks, slow flowing water. They usually choose places with plenty of aquatic vegetation.
Platypuses make 2 types of burrows. – The camping burrow and the nesting burrow.
The camping burrow is occupied by both the male and female platypuses except during the breeding season. During breeding season the camping burrow is used as a bachelor apartment. This type of burrow has 2 exits which are hidden by overhanging ledges and are mostly found behind tree roots. The camping burrow is in the shape of a semi-circle.
The nesting burrow is dug by the mother for breeding. A nesting chamber is then added to the burrow. The passages in these burrows are sloped upwards for protection against floods while their entrances are always above water. Nests built are usually made out of gum leaves, twigs or reeds. Usually the platypus dries itself before entering the burrow to maintain the dryness.
Adaptations
Structural Adaptation One
The platypus has quite a few adaptations that sets it apart from other animals. One of the many adaptations if the platypus’s bill. The platypus’s bill is the most prominent of the adaptations. The bill of the platypus aids its survival by acting as a tool for finding and mechanically digesting food. The bill has electroreceptors which allow the platypus to find its way in the river without using its eyes or ears. The mucus gland is attached to the nervous fibres in the electrosensative pores, because of this the platypus is able to detect the minute electrical impulses the prey makes. The platypus then uses its bill to force its prey out of hiding.This adaptation is mostly likely caused by the way the platypus do not use their eyes nor ears to see/hear thus making is more vunerable and creates a difficulty in finding food.
Second Structural Adaptation
Behavioral Adaptation
Mating age/ritual
The platypus is a very shy animal and is often wary of those around it. Although it is generally and solitary animal it does share areas sometimes. During mating season (between August and October) the shy, wary male platypus becomes more aggressive toward other male platypuses. The platypuses (male and female) both reach sexual maturity around the age of two. Until that time the male is unable to produce sperm and the female cannot produce eggs. A part of the courtship between the male and female platypus includes a range of swimming movements and some involved the male hanging onto the female’s tail while she swims with his jaws. Not much is known about the actual act of mating but it is known that they mate in the water. This adaptations is influenced so that the best paired platypuses will mate.
Burrow&Babies
Platypuses are nocturnal creatures and usually only leave their burrow early in the morning and at night. Their burrows are made as the platypus dig at the soft riverbanks to create their burrows. These burrows not only act as a home for them but also for the eggs the female will lay.
After the male and female platypus mates the female laves and builds a nesting burrow in preparation. The nesting burrows are made to keep her safe and contain twists and turns and are blocked with earth in more than one place. Once that is completed she stays in the burrow during the laying and incubation of her eggs. The female usually lays 1-3 eggs. These eggs usually look like reptile eggs. The female then lies between the eggs and uses her belly and tail to incubate the eggs. The adaption for eggs is most likely influenced by the environment and the need for survival whereas the burrow is mostly for protection and to aid the safety of the platypuses.
Physiological adaptation
The platypus has a lower body temperature than other mammals (37 – 38 Celsius). The platypus’s body temperature is approximately 32 Celsius. This helps the platypus sustain its body heat for as long as it can before it drops, but also because due to the low body temperature the rate of which the body heat is lost is slowed. The platypus reduces blood flow to bare and extreme parts of its body in cold weather and by doing this it keeps all the vital internal organs intact. Research has shown that this adaption has been a gradual one as the platypus adapts to the harsh environment around it.
Bibliography